Automatic phonograph resetting apparatus



July 8 1952 T. J. FINNERAN ET AL AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH RESETTING APPARATUS Filed May s, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET l July 8, 1952 T. J. FINNERAN ET AL AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH RESETTING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed May 5, 1946 Avro/:win

Patented July S, 19h52 A AUTOMATIC rnoNoGRArnnssnr'rnic APPARATUS Thomas J. Finneran and Charles 0. Slyfeld, Los

Angeles, Calif., assignors to Walt Disney Productions, Burbank, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 3, 194s, serial No. cameo i claims. (cl. 274-) V generally to a positioning apparatus for positioning any movable member in a preselected manner, and more particularly to an apparatus for a-utomatically positioning and resetting in a preselected manner the tone arm of a phonograph. The device may be used to automatically repeat any selected section of a recording. 1

It is the current practicein motion picture studiosk when making a foreign language version of a talking motion picture, which -originallywas recorded in the Englishlanguage or in'any given language, by the process'known as dubbing in translated dialogue, to play very short portions of the recorded dialogue inthe presenceoi a f l lllhis invention relates translator and actor,l who then tries to record translated dialogue in exactly` the same time interval as the short portion of the original dialogue played. It is quite difficult to time the translated dialogue so as to exactly coincide with the short excerpt of ther original dialogue, and the translator may have to replay the portion of the origina1 dialogue many times While attempting torecord a translateddialogue coincidentally therewith. Since each such step constitutes point on the recorded medium ycorresponding to the beginning of the portion of the Originalrecorded dialogue to be played. lf the original dialogue is recorded Aon a soundtrack on -llmL Wound on reels, or made up'intoiilm loops, it can readily be seen that the reel vof lm'must be rewound or run into the initial point. This makes this process impractical. `Generally, the sound track is transferred 'fro'rnfthe vmotion picture film to a dise recordingso that the tone arm may be returned to the initial position corresponding to `the beginning of the portion of the dialogue to :loe translated by simply lifting the tone arm and moving it to the proper groove' on the record. This prpcess is' simpler than the previously mentioned system' -usi-ngsound track recorded on lxn wound on reelsV or made up in the form of continuous lm loops. l Y

However, this system has the ydisadvantage that itis very difficult to'locate the desired initial point von the record, yand when manually reset,

2 the tone arm may be a number of grooves removed from the desired starting point; vSince this procedure is inefficient and consumes much time, it is therefore desirable to have an apparatus which will automatically return the tone armv of a phonograph to a precisely preselected point' on a'disc recording mounted on the phonograph turntable. i

Means for automatically resetting afvpiekup4 or tone arm toany desired pointin a `'record' are also of great advantage to students of foreign languages, since recorded foreign language lessons, including vocabularies,A pronunciation' drills, grammar, and the like, can be'us'ed'a'n'd any selected portion of said recording may be repeatedly reproduced 4asoften as desired: This might very advantageously be used,'for example; in foreign language' pronunciation drills recorded on discs.

A system of the character described, ormodications thereof, might also be very advantageously used for radio spot announcements, electrical transcriptions, recordings, and the like,

since split-second timing is veryimportant in point on a record.

Another object is to disclose and provide relatively simple and accurate means whereby ,thev pickup arm may be returned to anyV preselectedr starting position on a record. j f l The apparatus of this invention and man uses and adaptations thereof rwill be readily understood from the description of certain enemplary forms shown in the appended drawings,v wherein: f f f;

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a simple'lembodiment of the invention. i

Fig. 2 is an end View of the simplied embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatictop 'l view of a more highly developed embodiment of the device and includes a 'schematic'electrical control circuit which may be used therewith.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation olf the apparatus.y

Fig. 5 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken along the plane VII-VII in Fig. 6.

Generally speaking, the device of this invention may be employed with a phonograph having Va. rotatable turntable adapted to carry a disc record thereon and having a pivotally mounted tone arm provided with a reproducing needle or pickup in one end thereof. As is customary, the tone arm is pivoted to move in a plane parallel to the record and also in a plane transverse thereto so as to permit the needle to be lifted out of engagement with the disc.

The device of the present invention includes a stationary guide provided with an adjustably positionable stop carriage thereon, the stop carriage being provided with a translating arm pivotally attached to the carriage so that the arm may extend in a plane parallel to the record disc or at an angle thereto. The tail piece or end of the tone arm opposed to the pickup end is preferably provided with antifriction means capable of cooperating with the translating arm, such antifriction means being also adapted to abut and to be stopped by the carriage. Manual or automatic means for moving the translating arm are provided for the purpose of pivoting the tone arm upon its mounting so as to lift the needle or pickup out of cooperating engagement with the disc whereupon the tone arm pivotally moves in a substantially horizontal plane until the antifriction means abuts the stop carriage, thereby positioning the pickup needle at a point above the record determined by the position of the stop carriage. The needle may then be placed upon the record by pivotal movement of the translating arm, which movement may be imparted either manually or automatically.

A simple embodiment of the invention is more or less diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. l and 2. As there shown, the table, case or other primary support I is provided with the turntable 2 carrying the record disc 3. Suitable means for driving the turntable are also provided but not illustrated, since they are customary. A tone arm, indicated at 4, is mounted upon a suitable pivotal mounting of the character stated at 5. A pickup stylus or reproducing needle is carried by the end 6 of the tone arm and may be selectively placed in engagement with any portion of the record 3.

Mounted upon the base I adjacent the other end 1 of the tone arm 4 is a guide 8 preferably lying in a plane parallel to the record 3. The guide 8 may be either straight or curved around the pivot mount as a center. The guide 8 may be supported at a desired level above the base I by suitable supporting means 9.

Slidably and adjustably mounted upon the guide 8 is a stop carriage I0. Any suitable means for adjustably positioning the stop carriage along the guide 8 may be provided. Said stop carriage carries a relatively light translating arm II pivotally connected to the carriage as at I2.

The end 1 of the tone arm 4 may be provided with suitable antifriction means I3 (such as a roller mounted upon a suitable stud), such antifriction means being capable of slidably contacting the arm II.

If it is desired to repeatedly initiate reproduction from the record 3. the pickup 6 is placed at the point at which the record is to be started `against the guide 8.

and the carriage I0 is moved into contact with the antifriction means I3 and locked in such position. Reproduction may then be had and whenever it is desired to return the pickup to such predetermined starting position, it is only necessary to move the translating arm II downwardly into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the tone arm 4 will be lifted out of engagement with the record 3 and automatically moved to the initial starting position, the weight of the tone arm causing the antifriction means I3 to roll or move along the inclined translating arm until such antifriction means abut the stop carriage I8. By releasing the translating arm II, the pickup of the tone arm 4 will be deposited upon the record 3 at the predetermined and desired starting point.

It will be appreciated that by changing the position of the stop carriage ID along the guide 8, the initial reproducing position may be varied and reproduction may be started at any desired point'. Return to such initial position may be attained at any time during the playing of the record and is not dependent upon the travel of the tone arm to some extreme position or limit of the record 3.

In a more complete and detailed form of the apparatus, means may be provided for moving the stop carriage II) with greater precision. Manual or automatic means for actuating the translating arm I I may be provided. Automatic means for initiating reproduction not only Within a given groove but in a specified portion of a groove may be provided and the device may include means for automatically repeating any desired portion of a recording.

A more complete form of apparatus embodying these additions and modifications is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7 hereof. As shown in these drawings, the stationary guide 8 is mounted upon tubular posts 8 and 9. Therguide 8 is provided with a longitudinal slot I5 and the stop carriage I0 is provided with an upstanding lip I 8 and a tongue II capable of extending into the -slot I5 of the guide 8. The carriage I0 is slidably movable along the guide and any suitable means for locking the stop carriage in position may be provided, such as for example, a set screw I8, said set screw being capable of bearing Means for gradually and accurately moving the carriage I0 along the guide 8 may also be provided. Such means are shown in the drawings to include a stud pin 20 slidable.

in a bore 2'I and carrying a friction cone 22, lthe stud and its friction cone being automatically.

maintained out of contact with the top surface of guide 8 by means of a compression spring 2.3..

It will be evident that by moving the friction cone toward the left (Fig. '7), contact is made between the cone and the guide 8 so that rotation of the cone will move the carriage along the guide 8.

The carriage I8 is also provided with a downward extension or stop 24, such extension being slotted as indicated at 25. Within'such slot the 1 29 `ofa solenoid 3,0. the end of the rod 29 being preferably provided with adash-pot orr damping means 3 I. It will be noted that each of the slotted yokes -21 is normally upwardly biased asby means of aspring 32 contained within the tubular supports 9. y y

Manual means for inclining each of the arms II may also be provided upon the carriage I0. Such means may consist of normally upwardly spring-biased plungers 33 and 33' which may be actuated by the knobs 34 and 34.- The fplungers 3 3 are adapted to move against theupper edge of the arms II when the knobs ,34 are depressed.

In orderto prevent the tone arm andthe antifrict-ion means I3 from bouncing away-fr0m the stop carriage and stopgpost 2-4 thereof (when the antifriction means is returned to an initial position established `by the carriage) the lower edge or the arm I,I may be provided with aslight Arelier as indicated'at 36.

In some instances itis desirable to position the carriage lIll by listening to the record while it is being reproduced so that the precise point at which repetition is to start can be located. In order to accomplish this result, the stop carriage III 'is loosened upon ,its guides S by releasing the lock I8 4and the antifriction means I3 of the tone arm are held in contact with the .stop 24 ofthe carriage I-0 Iby means of an anchor .or pivoted dog 31, such dog vbeing :pivotally connected to `the stop 24 :as `at 3,8. In this manner the tone arm and antifriction means I;3 are caused to move the carriage vIll to a desired point, and when such .point is reached the carriage is locked by actuation of the lock I8.

It may be noted that in the device illustrated, two translating arms I I and I I are shown, thereby permitting the device to be employed with recordings cut from the center to the exterior edge of a disc or vice versa, it being understood that the antifriction means can be caused to cooperate with either arm II or II', depending upon the manner in which the disc lhas been originally recorded.

Automatic means .may be provided for returning the tone arm to an initial .starting position with great accuracy. Such -means may include an electrical arrangement of the character indicated in Fig. 3 wherein the electrical circuit is diagrammatically shown in its Vrelationship to the turntable 2. Generally stated, electrical energy is supplied by leads 40 controlled by switch 4I. The arm 42 of a relay or solenoid operated switch 43 is normallyr closed and supplies current to arm 44 of a switch in operative relation to coils or relays 45 and 45. The switch arm 44 is capable of being moved into position to make contact at 41 by means of a lug 48 carried by the turntable 2. When such contact is made (and the device is in position to initiate reproduction) current is supplied to coil 45 and to relay or solenoid 49 which opens its correlated contact 5U and breaks the circuit to the solenoid coil 3l) which has previously been energized and has held the arms II and I I' in a downward, inclined position.

The tone arm 4 may carry an adjustable refleeting mirror I receiving light from a source 52. A movably positionable photoelectric cell 53 is so positioned as to'receive light reiiected from mirror 5I at the end when a predetermined point in the record 3 has been reached. The photoelectric cell 53 is in circuit with its relay 54 so that when such predetermined point is reached switch 55 is opened, thus breaking the circuit and de-energizingthe Vrelay 49 which allows the switch y50 to close, thus closing the circuit to the solenoid 30 for actuating the translating arm II downwardly, thus permitting the tone arm to start its return to the :initial starting point. The opening of the switch 55 by the enelgzatn 0f the photoelectric relay coil -54 also de-energizcs relay 45, 'thus allowing arm 44 to break contact at 41 and to return the switch arm 44 to a position where it may be tripped by lug 48 on the turntable.

In the event it is desired to return the tone arm to initial starting position before it reaches a point at which the photoelectric cell is energized, such return may be initiated .by the closure or any one or more switches 5d which close the circuit to coil 43 causing the arm 42 to close a circuitwith contact line 51.l This causes energization of coil 46 and simultaneously deenergizes solenoid 43, permitting switch 50 to close and thereby energizing the pull-down solenoid coil 30.

Numerous modifications of this invention will occur Ato those skilled in the artand are included herein.v For example, the guide and translating arms need not necessarily be curved, providing the extension member or tailpece and the roller or other antifriction means are long enough and so positioned as to engage .the translating arm. The tone arm or movable member need not necessarily be pivotally mounted, but may move rectilinearly, in which casethe guide, carriage, and translating arms maybe modified so as tol suitablyT engage the tone arm or lmovable member for rectilinearl movement thereof. There need not ynecessarily be two translating arms. 'Said translating arms need lnot be 'necessarily pivotally mounted but may be mounted in any Suitable manner wherein movement of a portion thereof will cause repositioning or resetting translatory movement of the roller, tone arm, or other movable member. Furthermore, the tone arm or other movable, positionable member may or may not be provided with rotatable means such as the roller for engaging the translating arms. The roller or any other suitable engaging means need not necessarily engage the under surfaceof the translating arms :but may be, for example, mounted in a slot therein or may engage the translating arms in any other suitable manner. 'Further-` more, the electrical control circuit portion of the invention may be dispensed with entirely and the apparatus may be entirely manually operated.

The invention may be modified so as to automatically or manually reposition the needle K mounting of a transducer provided with a rotating drum for mounting a recorded medium thereon. The various relays, solenoids, and the like, may be replaced by other electrically operable means. The manual translator arm actuators may be modified in any suitable manner. The apparatus may be powered other than electrically, if so desired. The photosensitive Icontrol means may be replaced by numerous other systems responsive to position of a primary movable member. The locking means, the adjusting means, and various other mechanical features of the invention may be modified in any suitable manner.

The examples described and illustrated herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended in a limiting sense. This invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a phonograph including a rotatable turntable and a tone arm vin operative relation thereto, said tone arm being mounted for pivotal movement on vertical and horizontal axes, one end of the tone arm being provided with a pickup, the provision of means for automatically returning the tone arm to a selected starting position,

with a roller adapted to roll along the lower sur-v face ofA the translating arm toward the stop and to be stopped thereby ata selected position of the carriage when the free end of thctranslating arm is in a lowered position; and means` to controllably lower the free end of the translating arm.

2. In a phonograph including a rotatable turntable and a tone arm in operative relation thereto, said tone arm being Vmounted for pivotal movement on vertical and horizontal axes, one end of the tone arm being providedy with a pickup, the provision of means for automatically returning the tone arm to a selected starting position, comprising: a xedly mountedv curved guide adjacent the turntable; a selectively positionable carriage slidably mounted on the guide, said carriage being provided with a downwardly extending stop; a rigid, curved, translating arm having one free end and one end pivotally connected to the stop; and extension member carried by the end of the tone arm opposed to the pickup, said extension member being provided with a roller adapted to roll along the lower surface of the translating arm toward the stop and to be stopped thereby at a selected position of the carriage when the free endof the translating arm is in a lowered position; and electrically operable meansincluding a solenoid for controllably lowering the free end of the translating arm to return the tone arm to selected starting position established by the carriage and stop, said electrically operable means including a switch controlled by the turntable for deenergizing the solenoid to release the translating arm and initiate reproduction.

3. In a phonograph including a rotatable turn- 8. table and a tone arm in operative relation thereto, said tone Varm being mounted for pivotal movement on vertical and horizontal axes, one end of the tone arm being provided with a pickup, the provision of means for automatically returning the tone arm to a selected starting position, comprising: a xedly mounted curved guide adjacent the turntable; a selectively positionablecarriage slidably mounted on the guide, said carriage being provided with'a downwardly extending stop; a rigid, curved, translating arm having one free end and one yend pivotally connected to the stop; an extension member carried lby the end of the tone arm opposed to the pickup,

said extension member being provided with a roller adapted to roll along the lower surface of the translating arm toward the stop and to be stopped thereby at a selected position of the carriage when the free end of the translating arm is in a lowered position; and electrically operable means including a solenoid for controllably .lowering the free end of the translating arm to return the tone arm Ato selected starting position y starting position forenergizing the solenoid.

4. An apparatus of the character stated in claim 3, wherein said electrically operable means includes a switch controlled by the turntable for deenergizing the solenoid to release the translating arm and initiate reproduction.

THOMAS J. FINNERAN. CHARLES O. SLWIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The 'following references are of record in thev file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS 547,842 Germany Mar. 29, 1932 

